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| Sen. John Owan Enoh, Ex lawmaker and one time Gubernatorial candidate for APC Cross River State |
By Ukorebi Esien |10th November 2019
The erstwhile Senator representing Central Senatorial District of Cross River State and flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the just concluded gubernatorial election in the state has sent a heart warming message to members of his party ahead of the reruns in Abi local government area.
In a message released Sunday, 10th November 2019, the former lawmaker called on members of his party, the APC from both factions to sheat their sword and work together for the sucess of the party especially in the face of the reruns slated for Abi local government area within 90 days.
"After the outcome of the recent Court of Appeal judgments on the 2019 Election
Petitions in our State, I believe the dust has finally settled, we can begin to rethink our individual and collective mistakes and start the healing process. The Abi re-run elections as ordered by the Court of Appeal is a veritable opportunity to show that the healing
process has actually started by supporting our candidates". He noted.
Owan noted that the fracas during the 2018 state congress that was allowed to linger was behind the poor outing the parting experience during the 2019 general elections. He therfore called on members to use the Abi re-run as an opportunity to heal their wounds while they work together to supporting the party's candidates.
"The disputes that ensued during our party congresses in 2O18 culminated in the fiercely fought party primaries in the build up to the 2019 general elections. We went into the elections fragmented, factionalized and disunited, and the outcomes have been extremely undesirable for us as a party. The rulings of the Election Petition Tribunal and
the subsequent judgments of the Court of Appeal have no doubt given credence to the timeless biblical injunction that, "A house divided against itself cannot stand".
The statement reads in full:
MY MESSAGE TO ALL MEMBERS 0F OUR GREAT PARTY THE ALL PR0GRESSIVES C0NGRESS (APC), CR0SS RIVER STATE
It is with a great sense of responsibility and a feeling of exceptionally rare privilege that I send this message to you my fellow party men and women across the length and breadth of our dear State. I thought it wise to do so with profound respect and utmost gratitude for your staying power, perseverance and confidence in our party despite all we've gone through. ln spite of the avoidable internal wrangling that bedeviled our chances in the last general elections, you have established and maintained unwavering faith in our party which I must commend you so highly for. The impasse we faced should point us all to a new common ground and the lessons should serve to remind us that beyond our individual ambitions, we are one people with a shared history and a common destiny. I believe the strength of any political party in a fledgling democracy like ours is shown most clearly through the difficulties it can overcome.
The disputes that ensued during our party congresses in 2O18 culminated in the fiercely fought party primaries in the build up to the 2019 general elections. We went into the elections fragmented, factionalized and disunited, and the outcomes have been extremely undesirable for us as a party. The rulings of the Election Petition Tribunal and
the subsequent judgments of the Court of Appeal have no doubt given credence to the timeless biblical injunction that, "A house divided against itself cannot stand".
Nevertheless, I must congratulate all the candidates of our party who approached the tribunal and others who explored their constitutional right to fair hearing up to the Court of Appeal. I wish to further commend them for the peaceful acceptance of the judicial proceedings with a good measure of grace and sportsmanship. They have radiated faith in our democratic institutions. And they have also exhibited uncommon dedication to the ideals of our great party. I understand the bitter feeling of unfavorable court judgment and the difficulty of concession after a hard fought battle.
After the outcome of the recent Court of Appeal judgments on the 2019 Election
Petitions in our State, I believe the dust has finally settled, we can begin to rethink our individual and collective mistakes and start the healing process. The Abi re-run elections as ordered by the Court of Appeal is a veritable opportunity to show that the healing
process has actually started by supporting our candidates.
Ultimately, our common desire is to build a party that seeks not to be divided, but rather to bring all members together as one united family. One practical way for us to help bolster a united APCfamily in the State is for us to put the past behind us, collapse the two existing factions
of the party and unite firmly behind the Honorable Minster of State for Power, prince Goddy Jeddy Agba.
I have started the process with discussions with the Hon. Minister. I have also opened a line of communication with Hon. Godwin Etim John and Chief Francis Ekpenyong (a.ka
Orator), State Chairman and Secretary respectively of the other faction in the spirit of reconciliation and brotherhood. This is the time to put aside our personal partisan politics to recognize the importance of rebuilding the broken walls of our party. l'm confident that our party will survive the current challenges.
To this end, everyone has a part to play. We must sheath our swords, bury the hatchet and convey trust in the
leadership and integrity of the Hon. Minister and other leaders of our great party.
Now I wish to express my warmest congratulations to His Excellency, Senator (Prof)Benedict Ayade (KSJ) on his second term in office as the Executive Governor of CrossRiver State and other candidates who won at the Court of Appeal, particularly my
brother, Senator (Prof) Sandy Ojang Onor. I pray you savor this affirmation our State holds for you. You are by definition our leaders whose positions demand respect and honor. And you deserve credit for stepping up to these responsibilities of hard work and for seeking to take the inevitable heat and criticism that come with public office.
Political leadership is a public trust that calls for sacrifice, modesty and the willingness to add value to the lives of our people. lt is my prayer that His Excellency recognizes us on the other side of our State's political divide as opponents and not enemies with
shared interest in the development of our dear State.
My fellow party men and women, we are starting a new page in our great party. On this new page, there will be peace, unity, love and justice to all. I urge you to refresh your belief in our party and continue to invest your fidelity for a better tomorrow.
Thank you!
God bless APC.
God bless River State.
Senator John Owan Enoh (APC Governorship Candidate, 2019).
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